There was a time when the word "cheerleader" called to mind a daft, perky blonde with pom-poms. While some like that may still exist, you won't find them at Barnstable High School.

Yes, the BHS varsity cheerleaders wave pom-poms, and many are blonde, but they are anything but daft. They are perky, but they are also talented athletes, as recent accomplishments can attest.

On Nov. 19, the team placed second in the State Championships in Newton. The win marks only the second time the team has been to the championships in more than a decade. Last year they placed fourth.

"It was a really good, really close win [this year]," said squad co-captain Maxine Demko, one of six seniors on the team. "We lost by two points."

The team also garnered several other victories this season, including the Old Colony League and the Southeast Regional title.

Just last year the team decided to prove that they were more than "cheerleaders." They wanted folks to know that they are athletes in the truest sense of the word. "I make them work," said head coach Heather Crosby. "They're very conditioned."

In fact, conditioning is a large part of their program, with regular practices containing at least a half hour of it. Because of that, many on the team feel that one of their greatest traits is their strength. "They are lifting 130-pound girls over their heads for a minute or more," said Crosby. "They have to be totally in sync to make it work. If they're not in sync it can go really, really badly."

Fortunately, being in sync comes naturally to most of the team, though there are a few who have been a little "dance challenged."

This season marks Crosby's second as head coach. She took over the position last season after years of struggle in the program. She feels that her firm but understanding attitude helps the team succeed.

"I don't believe in burning them out," she explained. "If they haven't got it two days before the competition, they won't get it. There is no sense in pushing them over the limit."

So what truly makes them athletes? "We have just as many risks as there are in other sports," said Demko. Almost all of those on the team possess tumbling skills and several are gymnasts. Nearly everyone on the squad is capable of turning an impressive backflip or back handspring, including the sole man on the team, Josh Capra.

While the team is certainly confident in their strength and agility, they feel it is their bond that helps them achieve success. "Everybody gets along so well," said Andrea Camelio. "We're not your typical cheerleaders."

Demko echoed her sentiments as she continued, "This season we were much closer. We all have our groups that we hang out with, but we hang out with each other, too."

Indeed, the team enjoyed several Saturday night spaghetti suppers while preparing for their various championships and Friday night football halftime shows. "We love halftime," said Camelio. "All our friends are there."

Last Saturday's game marked the end of high school cheerleading for the seniors, and the end of the season for the rest of the team. While some, like Chelsie Sherbertes, plan to continue cheerleading in college, others have mixed emotions.

"I'm not sure," said Demko. "I don't think I am ever going to find the same thing I found here."